Bafana Bafana handed AFCON boost: Here’s how they could end up in Cameroon next year!

Bafana Bafana could receive an unlikely boost to their previously non-existent hopes of participating at the 2022 AFCON.

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The tournament is set to take place from 9 January to 6 February in Cameroon, with Bafana Bafana initially failing to qualify. 

Bafana Bafana headed into their last group game, needing to earn just a point away to Sudan in order to qualify for the AFCON.

However, the South Africans failed in their attempt and ended up losing the game 2-0.

Since then the country had been licking its wounds and had come to accept that they will not be seeing Hugo Broos’ men doing battle in his former stomping ground. 

HOWEVER according to recent reports, the Zimbabwean national team appear to be at risk of missing out of the tournament, which could spell good news for Bafana Bafana.

This comes after the Zimbabwe Sports and Recreations’ decision to suspend the Zimbabwe FA (ZIFA).

That news has since caught the attention of world football governing body FIFA, who have issued a stern warning stating that Zimbabwe have up until 3 January to re-instate the members of the ZIFA board, with a failure to do so leading to a possible global football ban. 

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Speaking to soccer24.co.zw last month, SRC chairperson Gerald Mlotshwa said that they’re fully aware of the possible consequence of the decision they have made. 

“If Fifa decides to ban Zimbabwean football, we are prepared. We have planned for that. If that happens, we look at it as being a short-term measure. I think Zimbabwean football needs this space and this opportunity to fix itself. A FIFA ban has been on the cards since the day we opened our mouths to say we are suspending the Zifa board,” he was quoted as saying this week.

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“FIFA statutes oblige them to sanction a board that has been interfered with. The position is that FIFA is FIFA, let them do whatever they consider is proper. FIFA know what we are doing and nothing will come as a surprise to them,” Mlotshwa continued.

Should Zimbabwe be banned on 3 January, it will mean they won’t be able to compete at the AFCON.

Bafana Bafana or Zambia the likely replacements

This then presents two possible scenarios.

CAF could either replace them with the best-third place finisher in the group stage qualification – which would be Bafana Bafana OR the team that finished below Zimbabwe in their group – which was Zambia.

All eyes on the 3 January then for Bafana Bafana supporters!